On a recent trip to Key Biscayne with Momma and Poppa Chen, I had the Perfect manicure (it lasted a whole week!). Naturally, for all of you lovely Blogger devotees, I did some digging on...

On a recent trip to Key Biscayne with Momma and Poppa Chen, I had the Perfect manicure (it lasted a whole week!). Naturally, for all of you lovely Blogger devotees, I did some digging on... [#image: /photos/5582bee1a28d9d4e05415efc]||||||On a recent trip to Key Biscayne with Momma and Poppa Chen, I had the Perfect manicure (it lasted a whole week!). Naturally, for all of you lovely Blogger devotees, I did some digging on what exact magic the technician employed! Read on for wisdom from Trudy Miller, Director, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Key Biscayne!

Do

Clip hangnails. They can be painful, especially if they get snagged on something. Be sure to clip and not pull them off, as this can lead to open wounds, additional soreness and potential infection.

When filing, start from one corner and move to the center of the nail. Repeat on the other side, stopping at the center. Avoid the "sawing" motion of back-and-forth, which can weaken the nail.

Eoliate hands at least once each week; remember to get in between the fingers where dead skin will build up over time. For a home remedy, combine sugar crystals with olive oil, both of which have great moisturizing properties.

Apply moisturizer at night to the hands and especially to the feet to maintain softness and eliminate dry, cracked skin. To lock in moisture even more, pull on your favorite pair of socks and gloves after application.

Before applying polish, always remove any excess oils from the nails by cleaning with alcohol or nail polish remover (be sure to rinse hands following). This way, the polish will last longer.

Apply polish in three to five strokes for each nail, more strokes will result in too thick of a coat and can create bubbling and lengthy dry time.

Seal the color with a top coat, swiping the brush along the edge of the nail to ensure a chip-free manicure. Try Sally Hansen Super Shine Shiny Top Coat, found at most drugstores.

Don’t

Don’t cut cuticles (skin around nails). Once you start, the skin will only grow thicker (not an ideal look for soft feminine hands).

Never file the sides of the nails, as this can cause the nail to peel.

Never use blades on the soles of the feet to get rid of dead skin; a foot file is the best option. Try Tweezerman Pedro Callus Stone, which is found in most drugstores.

Never apply dark polish without first applying a base coat. The dark pigment will stain the nail, causing them to appear yellow after removing the polish.

Never leave polish on your nails for longer than two weeks, as the nail can become damaged if polish is left on for too long without changing. Plus, your color will be dull after two weeks. Try Sally Hansen Insta-Grip Fast Dry Base Coat found in most drugstores.

Avoid using fast dry top coats as they can harden the polish so much that the polish will crack in a few days.

Do not to apply polish immediately before going to bed, as sheets will leave marks in the polish.